Multimedia message center for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device during an established traffic channel connection

ABSTRACT

The present application discloses an apparatus, system and method for reducing the time required for transmitting a multimedia message from any sender to any addressee and thus generally cut the cost of the multimedia message service. A traffic channel connection is kept to a receiving telecommunication device, which is established by a multimedia message service center that has received a multimedia message designated by a transmitting telecommunication device for said receiving telecommunication device, for example, in order to transmit an information message to the receiving telecommunication device during an SMS session by means of which the multimedia message service center informs the receiving telecommunication device about the arrival of the multimedia message, established for at least the period of time it takes the receiving telecommunication device to evaluate the received information message and hold an MMS session for fetching the message content of the multimedia message designated for the receiving telecommunication device from the multimedia message service center.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application No.10/537,692 filed Jun. 6, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,492 which is aU.S. National Stage Application of International Application No.PCT/EP2004/001697 filed Feb. 20, 2004, which designates the UnitedStates of America, and claims priority to DE Application No. 10307276.4filed Feb. 20, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to methods for delivering a multimediamessage to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia messagesink. A multimedia message center is also disclosed for delivering amultimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as amultimedia message sink, and a telecommunication device for accessingmultimedia messages stored in a storage location of a multimedia messageservice center.

BACKGROUND

The transmission and receipt of service messages sent to atelecommunication device such as a mobile telephone, a cordlesstelephone consisting of a base station and at least one mobile handset,a fixed network telephone, a fax machine, a personal computer etc., andvice versa from the telecommunication device, is a communication servicedistinguished by the information content transmitted with the messages,such as text, multimedia content such as audio and video data (calltones, screen savers), graphics, programs etc., and which, having firstmade its appearance on the mobile radio scene and finding widespreadacceptance, is now gradually becoming established in the fixed networkarea. The plurality of services being offered in mobile radiocommunication networks—such as the short message (messaging) service(SMS), the enhanced message (messaging) service (EMS), the multimediamessage (messaging) service (MMS), together with instant messaging, overthe air activation (OTA), e-mail etc. —suggest that present developmentsboth in the fixed networks and in the mobile radio field are headingtoward a situation in which the SMS and MMS communication services inparticular will play a greater role. In the case of SMS, standardsalready exist in both the mobile radio field and the fixed network field(for GSM: ETSI TS 100 942 V7.0. 0, Release 1998; for ISDN/PSTN: ETSI ES201 912V1.1.1, Release January 2002) but the same is only true for MMSin the mobile radio field (cf.: 3GPP TS 22.140 V4.y.z; stage 1 and 2;Release 4), whereas in the fixed network field standardization activityis still taking place (cf.: ETSI DES/AT-030023V0. 1.0, November 2003).

In fixed and mobile networks, SMS is a point-to-point servicedistinguished by an entirely push functionality—that is, the content ofthe short message (SM), which has a maximum length of 160 bytes, is sentby the short message service center (SMSC) to the telecommunicationdevice and as a rule consists of text data, with the connectionestablishment procedure being initiated by the service center. WhereasSMS in the mobile radio field uses wireless transmission methods betweenthe telecommunication device and the short message service center, theshort message being transmitted without a traffic channel connectionbeing established over a signaling channel, in fixed networks SMS isconnection-oriented, a traffic channel connection being establishedbetween the telecommunication device and the short message servicecenter, the short message then being transmitted over this connection byusing frequency shift keying or dual tone multiple frequency andinvoking the calling line identification (CLI) service feature known ascalling line identification presentation (CLIP).

Whereas in mobile radio communication networks MMS is handled in thesame way as SMS by wireless transmission over a WAP transport path(using the wireless application protocol), in fixed networks a differentmechanism comes into effect. On transmitting a multimedia message (MM),which in principle is unlimited in size but is currently restricted toaround 100 Kbytes, and can contain for example text, multimedia contentsuch as audio and video data (call tones, screen savers), graphics,programs etc., and short data which may be text, audio and/or video, thetelecommunication device is first sent a connection-oriented informationmessage, known as the MMS notification, which informs thetelecommunication device that there is a multimedia message at themultimedia message service center (MMSC). This notification is sent overa push service such as SMS. Unlike the receipt of a short message,however, in order to receive the content of a multimedia message it isnecessary to initiate a further connection from the telecommunicationdevice to the multimedia message service center.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the transmission of multimedia messages MM in thefixed network from a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee(receiving device), in which the devices are both normally registeredwith one and the same multimedia message service center MMSC inaccordance with the prior art.

In FIG. 1, the transmission of multimedia messages in the fixed networkfrom a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee (receiving device)occur when both devices are registered with the same multimedia messageservice center,

In FIG. 2, the transmission of multimedia messages in the fixed networkfrom a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee (receiving device)occur when the two devices are registered with different multimediamessage service centers.

FIG. 1 shows the transmission of a multimedia message MMN in a fixednetwork FN from a transmitting telecommunication device STKG to areceiving telecommunication device ETKG, in which both devices areregistered with one and the same multimedia message service center MMNDZwhich is assigned to the fixed network FN. In this context the term“assigned” means that the multimedia message service center MMNDZ iseither part of the fixed network FN or is arranged outside of the fixednetwork FN. The transmitting telecommunication device STKG or thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG is registered with themultimedia message service center MMNDZ by programming a receiving andtransmitting number of the service center into the respective device.This is done either by a factory pre-configuration in the respectivetelecommunication device, or as a manual input by the user of thedevice, or by a special configuration message transmitted once-only,e.g. via the short message service, by the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ to the transmitting telecommunication device STKG orreceiving telecommunication device ETKG during the initial installationof the MMS service, and used to play back dynamically the data neededfor installing said MMS service.

Transmission of the multimedia message MMN starts with the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG transmitting the multimedia message MMNfor the receiving telecommunication device ETKG over the fixed networkFN to the multimedia message service center MMNDZ. In order to informthe receiving telecommunication device ETKG that the multimedia messageMMN intended for the receiving telecommunication device ETKG has arrivedin the multimedia message service center MMNDZ, the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ sends an information message MN to a short messageservice center KNDZ which is assigned to the fixed network FN as thebearer of the information for the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG and for the multimedia message service center MMNDZ. The shortmessage service center KNDZ inserts the received information message MNinto a short message KN and sends the short message KN together with thelinked information message MN in a known way via the fixed network FN tothe receiving telecommunication device ETKG. In this case, however, thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG must be registered with theshort message service center KNDZ. Registration with the short messageservice center KNDZ takes place in the same way as registration with themultimedia message service center MMNDZ.

Upon receiving the information message MN, the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG establishes, via the fixed network FN, atemporary telecommunication link or a temporary Internet connectionaccording to the transmission control protocol/internet protocol(TCP/IP) to the multimedia message service center MMNDZ with which it isregistered as mentioned above, in order to retrieve the multimediamessage MMN which is stored there.

The fact that the receiving telecommunication device ETKG, as mentionedabove, is normally registered with only one multimedia message servicecenter and one short message service center means that the connectionfor retrieving the multimedia message MMN can only be established withthe multimedia message service center stored in the telecommunicationdevice in each case.

However, the multimedia message itself need not necessarily always bestored on a data server (storage location) of the multimedia messageservice center with which the telecommunication device retrieving themultimedia message is registered, but may be located anywhere else onany data server, such as a data server of another multimedia messageservice center. This is always the case whenever the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG sending the multimedia message MMN isregistered with another multimedia message service center. This case isillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows, similar to FIG. 1, the transmission of a multimediamessage MMN in the fixed network FN from a transmittingtelecommunication device STKG to a receiving telecommunication deviceETKG, but in this case, unlike in FIG. 1, the two devices are registeredwith different multimedia message service centers MMNDZ, MMNDZ′ both ofwhich are assigned to the fixed network FN. Whereas the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG is registered with the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ, as in FIG. 1, the receiving telecommunicationdevice ETKG is registered with a further multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ′.

In this context the term “assigned” means that the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ, MMNDZ′ is either part of the fixed network FN oris arranged outside of the fixed network FN. The transmittingtelecommunication device STKG or the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG is registered with the multimedia message service center MMNDZ orthe further multimedia message service center MMNDZ′ by programming areceiving and transmitting number of the service center into therespective device. This is done either by a factory pre-configureurationin the respective telecommunication device, or as a manual input by theuser of the device, or by a special configuration message transmittedonce-only, e.g. via the short message service, by the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ to the transmitting telecommunication device STKG,or by the further multimedia message service center MMNDZ′ to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG, during the initial installationof the MMS service, and used to play back dynamically the data neededfor installing said MMS service.

As before, transmission of the multimedia message MMN starts with thetransmitting telecommunication device STKG transmitting the multimediamessage MMN for the receiving telecommunication device ETKG over thefixed network FN to the multimedia message service center MMNDZ.However, the multimedia message service center MMNDZ detects that theaddressed receiving telecommunication device ETKG is not registered withthe said multimedia message service center, but with the furthermultimedia message service center MMNDZ′. It then sends an item ofinformation INF with the associated multimedia message MMN to thefurther multimedia message service center MMNDZ′. Upon receiving thisinformation and message, and in order to inform the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG that the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ′ has received from the multimedia message service center MMNDZ themultimedia message MMN intended for the receiving telecommunicationdevice ETKG, the said further multimedia message service center MMNDZ′then sends an information message MN to a short message service centerKNDZ which is assigned to the fixed network FN as the bearer of theinformation for the receiving telecommunication device ETKG and for thetwo multimedia message service centers MMNDZ/MMNDZ′. Also as before, theshort message service center KNDZ inserts the received informationmessage MN into a short message KN and sends the short message KNtogether with the linked information message MN in a known way via thefixed network FN to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG which inthis case too is registered with the short message service center KNDZ.Registration with the short message service center KNDZ takes place inthe same way as registration with the further multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ′.

Upon receiving the information message MN, the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG establishes, via the fixed network FN, atemporary telecommunication link or a temporary Internet connectionaccording to the transmission control protocol/internet protocol(TCP/IP) to the further multimedia message service center MMNDZ′ withwhich it is registered as mentioned above, in order to fetch themultimedia message MMN from where it has arrived and is stored pendingretrieval.

The embodiments in FIG. 2 show that the two multimedia message servicecenters possess suitable mechanisms for transmitting the multimediamessage from one service center to the other service center. Since asoften as not the fixed network operators of such service centers are ina competitive situation or may even be located in different countries,there is frequently no corresponding bilateral agreement between theoperators, so that it may not be possible to transmit the multimediamessage in such a case.

In the mobile radio field this problem is dealt with by agreementsbetween the individual operators of multimedia service centers.

In the short message service area, the competitive situation mentionedabove is prevalent in the fixed network field in countries such asGermany. As a solution to the described problem, the numbers of aplurality of short message service centers are set up in thetelecommunication devices, so that they can also receive short messagesfrom non-registered short message service centers. Generally, however,receiving a short message does not present a problem, since theconnection establishment procedure is always initiated by the deliveringshort message service center.

The embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2 reveal a further problem in connectionwith the transmission of multimedia messages—implementation of themultimedia message service.

As already explained above, in the MMS service for transmitting themultimedia message from a sender to an addressee, in the first instancethe addressee is sent an information message known as an MMSnotification, which informs the addressee that there is a multimediamessage at the multimedia message service center (MMSC). Thisnotification is preferably sent over a push service such as SMS. Unlikethe receipt of a short message in the SMS service, however, the contentof the multimedia message still needs to be retrieved.

For this purpose, the addressee device establishes a connection to themultimedia message service center and retrieves the content of themultimedia message via this connection. If “immediate retrieval” is setup in the device, the connection establishment procedure takes placeimmediately after the connection established for transmitting the SMSmessage or the information message (MMS notification) has beenterminated.

If retrieval of the multimedia message is intended to be free of charge,the multimedia message service center must provide suitable call numberswhich allow the communication device to make a free call. This involvesthe multimedia message service center in additional costs for providingthe access numbers concerned.

This problem, so far discussed against the background of the prior art(e.g. FIG. 1), is shown in FIG. 3. This shows the following:

FIG. 3: A sequence chart based on FIG. 1, showing the sequence ofmeasures connected with the transmission of a multimedia message from asender (transmitting device) to an addressee (receiving device) in thefixed network.

FIG. 3, based on FIG. 1, shows the sequence of measures M1.1 to M9.1connected with the transmission of the multimedia message MMN from thetransmitting telecommunication device STKG to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG in the fixed network FN. First themultimedia message MMN is transmitted by the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG according to a first measure M1.1 to themultimedia message service center MMNDZ, where it is preferably bufferedor stored until the time when the multimedia message is retrieved by therecipient (in this case, the receiving telecommunication device ETKG).According to a second measure M2.1 the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ causes (initiates) transmission of the information message MN,known as the MMS notification, to the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG, whereupon a push proxy gateway (PPG) (not shown) of the multimediamessage service center MMNDZ transmits the information message MN to theshort message service center KNDZ, also known as the short messageservice center SMSC.

In order to enable transmission of the information message MN to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG as instructed by the multimediamessage service center MMNDZ, the short message service center KNDZestablishes according to a third measure M3.1 a circuit switched (andtherefore chargeable) first traffic channel connection NKV1 to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG. According to a fourth measureM4.1, the information message MN “packaged” in the short message KN(using the SMS service) is then sent by means of the FSK or DTMFsignaling originally mentioned, and typically at a transmission rate of1200 baud, via this established connection (in-band signaling) to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG. If the information message MNis transmitted, then according to a fifth measure M5.1 the first trafficchannel connection NKV1 is cleared. According to FIG. 3 this connectioncan be cleared down by both the receiving telecommunication device ETKGand the short message service center KNDZ.

According to a sixth measure M6.1, when the first traffic channelconnection NKV1 has been cleared down the receiving telecommunicationdevice ETKG establishes a second circuit switched (and thereforechargeable) traffic channel connection NKV2 to the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ. According to a seventh measure M7.1, the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG uses this second traffic channelconnection NKV2 to request the content of the multimedia message MMNfrom the multimedia message service center MMNDZ. According to an eighthmeasure M8.1, the multimedia message service center MMNDZ then transmitsthe requested content to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG,possibly by means of a transmission control protocol/interne protocol(TCP/IP) session. When the content of the multimedia message MMN hasbeen transmitted, then according to a ninth measure M9.1 the secondtraffic channel connection NKV2 is also cleared down. According to FIG.3 this connection can be cleared down by both the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG and the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiment disclosed herein illustrate a method and amultimedia message center for delivering a multimedia message to atelecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sink, and atelecommunication device for accessing multimedia messages stored in astorage location of a multimedia message service center, so that thetime required for transmitting the multimedia message from any sender toany addressee is shortened and thus the cost of the multimedia messageservice (MMS) can be generally reduced.

When a multimedia message from a sender is being delivered to atelecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sink(addressee device), the direct or indirect transmission of aninformation message, i.e. the MMS notification, by a multimedia messageservice center to an addressee device, and the retrieval of the contentof the multimedia message by the addressee device from the multimediamessage service center, take place during a traffic channel connectionin two separate sessions between the addressee device and the servicecenter.

A traffic channel connection to a receiving telecommunication device,established by a multimedia message service center which has, forexample, received a multimedia message from a transmittingtelecommunication device intended for the said receivingtelecommunication device, and established for the purpose oftransmitting an information message to the receiving telecommunicationdevice during an SMS session (using the short message service) in orderto inform the receiving telecommunication device about the arrival ofthe said multimedia message, remains established until the receivingtelecommunication device has evaluated the received information messageand has executed an MMS session to retrieve the content of themultimedia message intended for the receiving telecommunication devicefrom the multimedia message service center.

In contrast to the prior art, it is no longer necessary to have twoseparate traffic channel connections in order to receive the content ofthe multimedia message, but only one connection initiated by themultimedia message service center.

This has the following advantages:

-   -   No necessity for the multimedia message service center to        provide toll-free access numbers if access to the multimedia        message service center is intended and required to be without        charge.    -   Faster MMS handling, since the time needed for the        telecommunication device to establish a traffic channel        connection is saved.    -   A further time saving since authentication mechanisms are not        needed.    -   Saving of an additional access number in the telecommunication        device, if different call numbers are provided in the        telecommunication device for transmitting and receiving a        multimedia message.    -   Billing advantages for the operator of the multimedia message        service center.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in theindividual sub-claims and in the description of the typical embodimentof said invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various objects, advantages and novel features of the presentdisclosure will be more readily apprehended from the following DetailedDescription when read in conjunction with the enclosed drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the transmission of multimedia messages MM in thefixed network from a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee(receiving device), in which the devices are both normally registeredwith one and the same multimedia message service center MMSC inaccordance with the prior art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sequence chart based on FIG. 1, showing thesequence of measures connected with the transmission of a multimediamessage from a sendor (transmitting device) to an address (receivingdevice) in the fixed network.

FIG. 4 illustrates the transmission of multimedia messages in thefixed/mobile network from a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee(receiving device), when both devices are registered either with thesame multimedia message service center or with different multimediamessage service centers, with the sole involvement of the retrievalmultimedia message service center, the message storage location and thelog-in node being arranged within the retrieval multimedia messageservice center,

FIG. 5 illustrates a first sequence chart based on FIGS. 3 and 4,showing the sequence of measures connected with the transmission of amultimedia message from a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee(receiving device), the multimedia message service center and the shortmessage service center being two separate service centers, possibly indifferent locations,

FIG. 6 illustrates a second sequence chart based on FIGS. 3 and 4,showing the sequence of measures connected with the transmission of amultimedia message from a sender (transmitting device) to an addressee(receiving device), the multimedia message service center and the shortmessage service center forming a single service center.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 4 shows on the basis of FIGS. 1 and 2 the transmission of amultimedia message MMN in a fixed/mobile network FMN by a transmittingtelecommunication device STKG to a receiving telecommunication deviceETKG, the two devices being registered either with different multimediamessage service centers MMNDZ, MMNDZ′ or with one and the samemultimedia message service center, e.g. the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ or the further multimedia message service center MMNDZ′.The multimedia message service center or the multimedia message servicecenters are assigned to the fixed/mobile network FMN. Whereas thetransmitting telecommunication device STKG, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, isregistered with the multimedia message service center MMNDZ, thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG can be registered with thefurther multimedia message service center MMNDZ′ as in FIG. 2 or,according to the drawing in FIG. 4, can be registered with themultimedia message service center MMNDZ as in the case of thetransmitting telecommunication device STKG.

In the context of the fixed/mobile network FMN, the term “assigned”means that the multimedia message service center MMNDZ is either part ofthe fixed/mobile network FMN or is arranged outside of the fixed/mobilenetwork FMN. The transmitting telecommunication device STKG or thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG is registered with themultimedia message service center MMNDZ by programming a receiving andtransmitting number of the service center into the respective device.This is done either by a factory pre-configureuration in the respectivetelecommunication device, or as a manual input by the user of thedevice, or by a special configuration message transmitted once-only,e.g. via the short message service, by the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ to the transmitting telecommunication device STKG and tothe receiving telecommunication device ETKG, during the initialinstallation of the MMS service, and used to play back dynamically thedata needed for installing said MMS service.

The transmitting telecommunication device STKG can be configureddifferently, for instance as a fixed line telephone, a GSM/UMTS mobiletelephone, a DECT cordless telephone consisting of a cordless basestation and at least one cordless mobile handset, a portable personalcomputer (notebook) or a service provider. This list is not exclusive,and can be expanded as necessary to include any devices which are alsoable to transmit multimedia messages MMN over the fixed/mobile networkFMN to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG (for example a faxmachine). Moreover the form in which the multimedia message MMN istransmitted is not significant in the disclosed embodiment. For example,in addition to the known transmission forms, it is also possible for ane-mail to be sent as a multimedia message MMN.

Transmission of the multimedia message MMN starts with the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG transmitting the multimedia message MMNfor the receiving telecommunication device ETKG over the fixed/mobilenetwork FMN to the multimedia message service center MMNDZ. Themultimedia message service center MMNDZ has a receiving device EME forreceiving the multimedia message MMN sent by the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG. The receiving device EME forwards thereceived multimedia message MMN to a central control unit ZST of themultimedia message service center MMNDZ which controls the operating andfunction sequences in the multimedia message service center MMNDZ. Thiscentral control unit ZST preferably contains registration means RM,preferably in software form which register the forwarded multimediamessage MMN and forward it for temporary buffering to a storage locationHLS connected to the central control unit ZST and arranged within themultimedia message service center MMNDZ.

Along with the registration and storage of the multimedia message MMN,the receiving telecommunication device ETKG is informed by the centralcontrol unit ZST of the multimedia message service center MMNDZ that amultimedia message intended for the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG is stored in the multimedia message service center MMNDZ pendingretrieval. For this purpose, the central control unit ZST has not onlythe registration means RM but also means, likewise preferably in theform of software, for generating information messages MNEM. Theinformation message generation means MNEM generate an informationmessage MN, being the MMS notification introduced during theimplementation of the MMS service in the fixed network, to inform thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG about the existence of amultimedia message intended for the said receiving telecommunicationdevice ETKG. For this purpose the information message MN is forwarded bythe central control unit ZST to a transmitting and receiving device SEEin the multimedia message service center MMNDZ.

If both the receiving telecommunication device ETKG and the transmittingtelecommunication device STKG are registered with the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ as shown in FIG. 4, there is no problem regardingwhich multimedia message service center MMNDZ the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG must log into in order to retrieve thecontent of the multimedia message MMN.

The situation is different, however, when the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG and the transmitting telecommunicationdevice STKG are registered with different multimedia message servicecenters as, for example, shown in FIG. 2. To be able to retrieve thecontent of the multimedia message in such a case, either the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG must be informed where to log in, or themultimedia message service centers exchange information in order to makesure that the receiving telecommunication device ETKG receives thecontent of the multimedia message.

In the first case mentioned, the central control unit ZST of themultimedia message service center MMNDZ, shown in FIG. 4, has accordingto the International Patent Application (int. file numberPCT/EP03/14639) means of generating log-in information with which tocreate an item of log-in information whereby the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG is informed where it must log in so as toaccess and retrieve the stored multimedia message.

Having received the forwarded information message MN, the transmittingand receiving device SEE transmits the message to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG. Transmission may be direct from themultimedia message service center MMNDZ, or indirect, that is, withintermediate switching of at least one further instance. For theinformation message MN to be transmitted directly, an appropriatetransmission protocol between the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ and the receiving telecommunication device ETKG would need to bedefined and specified, regardless of whether or not the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG is registered with the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ, so that the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG can detect and interpret the transmitted message and information.As an alternative it is also possible to operate the further instanceand the multimedia message service center MMNDZ as a single servicecenter (cf. FIG. 6).

The situation is different for indirect transmission when, as a rule, atransmission service is called upon to transmit the information messageMN. As already stated in the description of FIGS. 1 and 2, this involvesthe short message service or even the SMS with an SMS-specifictransmission protocol. In the SMS service, transmission of the messageand information needing to be transmitted to the telecommunicationdevice is independent of whether the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG is registered with the multimedia message service center MMNDZ, ornot operated by a corresponding short message service center. However,other services can be envisaged for the same purpose.

As in FIGS. 1 and 2, the short message service is also used to transmitthe information message MN shown in FIG. 4. The transmitting andreceiving device SEE therefore sends the information message MN to ashort message service center KNDZ which is assigned to the fixed/mobilenetwork FMN as the bearer of the information for the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG and for the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ. The short message service center KNDZ inserts the receivedinformation message MN into a short message KN configured as a shortmessage service message and sends the said short message KN togetherwith the linked information message MN in a known way via thefixed/mobile network FMN to the receiving telecommunication device ETKGwhich is connected to the short message service center KNDZ and isregistered with the short message service center KNDZ. Registration withthe short message service center KNDZ takes place in the same way asregistration of the receiving telecommunication device ETKG and thetransmitting telecommunication device STKG with the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ.

Instead of integrating the information message MN directly into theshort message KN, it is also possible as an alternative to integrate theinformation message MN indirectly into the short message KN by firstintegrating it into a wireless application protocol push message andthen integrating the wireless application protocol push message into theshort message KN.

So that the information message MN can be received by the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG, the latter has not only the conventionalmodules of such a telecommunication device (preferably operated as atelephone or cordless telephone) such as a keyboard TA, a display deviceAE and an electro-acoustic converter EAW, but also atransmitter/receiver SEM which is connected to a central control deviceZSTE controlling the operating and function sequences in the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG. For this purpose the central controldevice ZSTE is also connected to the keyboard TA, the display device AEand the electro-acoustic converter EAW. Lastly the information messageMN accesses the central control device ZSTE via the connection to thetransmitter/receiver SEM.

The central control device ZSTE contains means of analysis AWM,preferably in software form, for analyzing the received informationmessage MN that has been forwarded to the central control device ZSTE.However, the said means of analysis AWM analyze not only the saidinformation message MN, but other information also. In order to tellwhich information is analyzed in addition, FIGS. 5 and 6 will first bedescribed at this point, before continuing with the description of FIG.4.

FIG. 5 shows on the basis of FIGS. 3 and 4 the sequence of measures M1.2to M10.2 connected with the transmission of the multimedia message MMNfrom the transmitting telecommunication device STKG to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG in the fixed/mobile network FMN, themultimedia message service center MMNDZ and the short message servicecenter KNDZ being two separate service centers, possibly in differentlocations. First the multimedia message MMN is transmitted by thetransmitting telecommunication device STKG according to a first measureM1.2 to the multimedia message service center MMNDZ, where it ispreferably buffered in the storage location HLS until the time when themultimedia message is retrieved by the recipient (in this case, thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG). According to a second measureM2.2 the multimedia message service center MMNDZ causes (initiates)transmission of the information message MN, known as the MMSnotification, to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG, whereupona push proxy gateway (PPG) (not shown) of the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ transmits the information message MN to the short messageservice center KNDZ, also known as the short message service centerSMSC.

In order to enable transmission of the information message MN to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG as instructed by the multimediamessage service center MMNDZ, the short message service center KNDZestablishes according to a third measure M3.2 a circuit switched (andtherefore chargeable) traffic channel connection NKV to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG, and at the same time an informationsession IS is initiated, said session also being known as an SMS sessiondue to the use of the SMS service for transmission of the informationmessage. During this information session IS, according to a fourthmeasure M4.2, the information message MN “packaged” in the short messageKN (using the SMS service) is then sent by means of the FSK or DTMFsignaling originally mentioned, and typically at a transmission rate of1200 baud, via this established connection (in-band signaling) to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG.

However, in order to inform the receiving telecommunication device ETKGthat the short message service center KNDZ establishing the trafficchannel connection NKV does not intend to clear down the establishedtraffic channel connection NKV immediately after transmission of theinformation message, but preferably only after a delay, an informationelement IE of an information element container used for transmitting theinformation message is transmitted to the receiving telecommunicationdevice ETKG together with the information message MN.

Such signaling can take place because a user data header informationelement (UDH-IE) contains either the information “LineTime”, whichspecifies for how long the connection will be held open, or theinformation “UseSameLink”, by which the receiving telecommunicationdevice ETKG is requested to establish a new session.

This further information to the receiving telecommunication device ETKGalso has the advantage that if the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG does not want to initiate a new session at a particular moment orfor the allotted duration, it is able to end the established trafficchannel connection immediately and free up channel resources in thefixed/mobile network FMN.

As an alternative to transmitting the information element IE with theinformation message MN it is also possible, according to a fifth measureM5.2, to transmit to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG aseparate message MD which fulfills the same purpose and which is eitherlikewise packed in the short message KN or may itself actually be adedicated short message. This message may take the following form:

When the short message service center KNDZ requests the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG to clear down the traffic channelconnection NKV after transmitting the information message (by sending a“Release”), then instead of sending this “Release” message, the shortmessage service center KNDZ can send a message which is yet to bedefined, “Release, hold Line” or “Establish-Link”, as the specifiedmessage MD.

When the information message MN and the information element IE or themessage MD have been transmitted, then according to a sixth measure M6.2the information session IS is terminated. According to FIG. 5 thisinformation session IS can be terminated by both the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG and the short message service center KNDZ.

According to a seventh measure M7.2, on the basis of the previouslydescribed supplementary signaling via the short message service centerKNDZ, following the close of the information session IS the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG starts a fetching session AS to retrievethe content of the multimedia message MMN, said session also being knownas an MMS session. In the context of this fetching session AS, accordingto an eighth measure M8.2, the receiving telecommunication device ETKGrequests the content of the multimedia message MMN from the multimediamessage service center MMNDZ. At this point it should be noted thatthere exists between the multimedia message service center MMNDZ and theshort message service center KNDZ a physical “backbone connection” viawhich the receiving telecommunication device ETKG can retrieve thecontent of the multimedia message MMN. According to a ninth measureM9.2, the multimedia message service center MMNDZ then, depending on thetype of receiving telecommunication device ETKG involved (e.g. fixedline analog/digital telephone, analog/digital cordless telephone, mobiletelephone, personal computer, fax machine etc.), transmits the requestedcontent according to a transmission control protocol/internet protocol(TCP/IP), a modem protocol, a peer-to-peer protocol (PPP), a faxprotocol or a wireless session protocol (WSP) to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG. According to a tenth measure M10.2, oncethe content of the multimedia message MMN has been transmitted thefetching session AS is terminated and the traffic channel connection NKVto the short message service center KNDZ is also released. According toFIG. 5 both of these connections can be cleared down both by thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG and by the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ via the “backbone connection” or the short messageservice center KNDZ.

FIG. 6 shows on the basis of FIGS. 3 and 4 the sequence of measures M1.3to M10.3 connected with the transmission of the multimedia message MMNfrom the transmitting telecommunication device STKG to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG in the fixed/mobile network FMN, themultimedia message service center MMNDZ and the short message servicecenter KNDZ forming a single service center. First the multimediamessage MMN is transmitted by the transmitting telecommunication deviceSTKG according to a first measure M1.3 to the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ, where it is preferably buffered in the storage locationHLS until the time when the multimedia message is retrieved by therecipient (in this case, the receiving telecommunication device ETKG).

To enable transmission of the information message MN by the multimediamessage service center MMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ to thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG, the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ establishes according toa second measure M2.3 a circuit switched (and therefore chargeable)traffic channel connection NKV to the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG, and at the same time an information session IS is initiated, saidsession also being known as an SMS session due to the use of the SMSservice for transmitting the information message. During thisinformation session IS, according to a third measure M3.3, theinformation message MN “packaged” in the short message KN (using the SMSservice) is then sent by means of the FSK or DTMF signaling originallymentioned, and typically at a transmission rate of 1200 baud, via thisestablished connection (in-band signaling) to the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG.

Under an alternate embodiment to that shown in FIG. 5, the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG is not now informed by the multimediamessage service center MMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ that themultimedia message service center MMNDZ/short message service centerKNDZ establishing the traffic channel connection NKV does not intend tokeep the established traffic channel connection NKV open for a certaintime after transmission of the information message. To prevent thetraffic channel connection NKV from being cleared down, as is the casewith the first traffic channel connection in FIG. 3, the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG in the alternate embodiment must be activein its own right.

According to a fourth measure M4.3 a query message AM is transmitted tothe multimedia message service center MMNDZ/short message service centerKNDZ asking whether the established traffic channel connection NKV canremain open until the content of the multimedia message MMN is retrievedfrom the multimedia message service center MMNDZ/short message servicecenter KNDZ. For this purpose the query message AM can preferably eitherbe packed in a separate short message just like the information message,or can itself be a dedicated short message.

According to a fifth measure M5.3, if this query message AM is answeredby an acknowledge message BM from the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ, then the intention is the sameas that of the receiving telecommunication device ETKG, not to cleardown the traffic channel connection NKV. For this purpose also theacknowledge message BM can preferably either be packed in a separateshort message just like the information message, or can itself be adedicated short message.

When the receiving telecommunication device ETKG has received theacknowledge message BM from the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ, then according to a sixthmeasure M6.3 the information session IS is closed. According to FIG. 5the information session IS can be terminated both by the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG and by the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ.

According to a seventh measure M7.3, and on the basis of the previouslydescribed exchange of messages, following the close of the informationsession IS the receiving telecommunication device ETKG starts a fetchingsession AS to retrieve the content of the multimedia message MMN, thesession also being known as an MMS session. In the context of thisfetching session AS, according to an eighth measure M8.3, the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG requests the content of the multimediamessage MMN from the multimedia message service center MMNDZ/shortmessage service center KNDZ. According to a ninth measure M9.3, themultimedia message service center MMNDZ/short message service centerKNDZ then, depending on the type of receiving telecommunication deviceETKG involved (e.g. fixed line analog/digital telephone, analog/digitalcordless telephone, mobile telephone, personal computer, fax machineetc.), transmits the requested content according to a transmissioncontrol protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), a modem protocol, apeer-to-peer protocol (PPP), a fax protocol or a wireless sessionprotocol (WSP) to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG. Accordingto a tenth measure M10.3, once the content of the multimedia message MMNhas been transmitted, the fetching session AS is terminated and thetraffic channel connection NKV to the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ is also released. According toFIG. 6 both of these can be cleared down both by the receivingtelecommunication device ETKG and by the multimedia message servicecenter MMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ.

It should be noted that the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ/short message service center KNDZ in FIG. 6 can also appear inplace of the multimedia message service center MMNDZ and the shortmessage service center KNDZ in FIG. 5 and vice versa.

The means of analysis AWM in FIG. 4 therefore analyze the informationelement IE, the message MD and the acknowledge message BM, all of whichare conveyed over the transmitter/receiver SEM of the central controldevice ZSTE. For retrieving the content of the multimedia message MMN inthe context of the fetching session AS according to FIGS. 5 and 6, thereceiving telecommunication device ETKG has a fetching device AHE forretrieving messages and/or information; said device is connected on theone hand to the central control device ZSTE and on the other hand, forthe temporary connection according to the transmission controlprotocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), the modem protocol, thepeer-to-peer protocol (PPP), the fax protocol and/or the wirelesssession protocol (WSP), to a log-in node EWK of the multimedia messageservice center MMNDZ, so that the central control device ZSTE can accessthe multimedia message service center MMNDZ via the fetching device AHEand retrieve the multimedia message.

As before, the log-in node EWK of the multimedia message service centerMMNDZ is connected to the central control unit ZST and from the point ofview of the multimedia message service center MMNDZ forms the interfaceor gateway to the receiving telecommunication device ETKG, via whichboth the retrieval request of the receiving telecommunication deviceETKG and the issue of the multimedia message MMN initiated by thecentral control unit ZST are handled.

The above described description and drawings are only to be consideredillustrative of exemplary embodiments, which achieve the features andadvantages of the invention. Modifications and substitutions to specificprocess conditions and structures can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not tobe considered as being limited by the foregoing description anddrawings, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A multimedia message service center for delivering a multimediamessage to a telecommunication device, the multimedia message servicecenter comprising: a central control unit that controls the operatingand function sequences in the multimedia message service center, and towhich a storage location for storing the multimedia messages isassigned; a receiving device, for receiving multimedia messages, whichreceives the multimedia message to be delivered to the telecommunicationdevice, and is connected to the central control unit for the purpose offorwarding said message to it; registration means, assigned to thecentral control unit, which store the multimedia message that hasarrived in the central control unit at the storage location; informationmessage generation means, assigned to the central control unit, whichgenerate an information message concerning the multimedia message thathas arrived in the central control unit; and a transmitting andreceiving device, for transmitting and receiving messages, which isconnected to the central control unit, receives the information messagefrom the central control unit and sends said message directly orindirectly to the telecommunication device in order to inform thetelecommunication device about the stored multimedia message, such thatduring an information session, the transmitting and receiving devicesends the information message to the telecommunication device via anestablished direct or indirect traffic channel connection to thetelecommunication device; wherein upon the transmission of theinformation message the information session is terminated but thetraffic channel connection to the telecommunication device remainsestablished at least until the telecommunication device has analyzed thereceived information message and retrieved the stored multimedia messagefrom the multimedia message service center via the established trafficchannel connection during a fetching session; such that both (a) theinformation message informing the telecommunication device about thestored multimedia message and (b) the multimedia message itself aretransmitted to the telecommunication device during the same singletraffic channel connection.
 2. The multimedia message service centeraccording to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving device isconfigured such that during the information session thetelecommunication device is informed that the traffic channel connectionremains established for a specified time which is sufficient for theanalysis of the information message and for the duration of the fetchingsession.
 3. The multimedia message service center according to claim 2,wherein the central control unit and the transmitting and receivingdevice are configured such: a special information element of aninformation element container used for the transmission of theinformation message is generated and transmitted together with theinformation message, or a separate message is generated and transmittedseparately from the information message.
 4. The multimedia messageservice center according to claim 1, wherein the central control unitand the transmitting and receiving device are configured such thatduring the information session, the telecommunication device requeststhat the traffic channel connection remain established for a specifiedtime sufficient for the analysis of the information message and for theduration of the fetching session.
 5. The multimedia message servicecenter according to claim 1, wherein the information message is insertedinto a short message configured as a short message service message, andthe multimedia message service center is connected to a short messageservice center, such that the short message is sent on the instructionsof the multimedia message service center from a short message servicecenter to the telecommunication device.
 6. The multimedia messageservice center according to claim 5, wherein the transmitting andreceiving device is configured such that the short message servicecenter is instructed by the multimedia message service center when theinformation message is sent by the multimedia message service center tothe short message service center.
 7. The multimedia message servicecenter according to claim 1, wherein the information message is insertedin a wireless application protocol push message, the wirelessapplication protocol push message is inserted into a short messageconfigured as a short message service message, and the multimediamessage service center is connected to a short message service center,such that the short message is sent on the instructions of themultimedia message service center from a short message service center tothe telecommunication device.
 8. The multimedia message service centeraccording to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving device isconfigured such that the information message is transmitted usingin-band signaling.
 9. The multimedia message service center according toclaim
 8. wherein the transmitting and receiving device is configuredsuch that the in-band signaling uses FSK transmission or DTMFtransmission.
 10. The multimedia message service center according toclaim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving device is configuredsuch that the information session is carried out according to a modemprotocol or a facsimile protocol.
 11. The multimedia message servicecenter according to claim 1, configured such that the fetching sessionis carried out according to a TCP/IP protocol, a WSP protocol, a modemprotocol or a facsimile protocol.
 12. The multimedia message servicecenter according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia message contains atleast one of audio, video and text data.
 13. A multimedia messageservice center for delivering a multimedia message to atelecommunication device, the multimedia message service centercomprising logic instructions stored in tangible computer-readablestorage and executable to: receive a multimedia message; store themultimedia message; and send, directly or indirectly, an informationmessage to the telecommunication device informing the telecommunicationdevice about the stored multimedia message, the information messagebeing transmitted during an information session and via an establisheddirect or indirect traffic channel connection to the telecommunicationdevice; wherein upon the transmission of the information message theinformation session is terminated but the traffic channel connection tothe telecommunication device remains established at least until thetelecommunication device has analyzed the received information messageand retrieved the stored multimedia message from the multimedia messageservice center via the established traffic channel connection during afetching session; such that both (a) the information message informingthe telecommunication device about the stored multimedia message and (b)the multimedia message itself are transmitted to the telecommunicationdevice during the same single traffic channel connection.